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HiFiMan Shangri-La Jr electrostatic headphones ($8000 With Amplifier/Energizer; reviewed by Herb Reichert, June 2019, Vol.42 No.6 Review)

"Call me when you make a cheaper, trickled-down [version]."

That's what Herb Reichert said to Dr. Fang Bian, HiFiMan's CEO and super- brain, upon being offered the chance to review the company's Shangri-La electrostatic headphones and 300B-powered amplifier/energizer, a combination that marked the first time Herb heard electrostats that were completely free of the breed's characteristic colorations—…

Isoacoustics Gaia and Orea Isolation Feet ($59 and up); reviewed by Robert Deutsch & Art Dudley, October 2017, February 2018, & June 2019, Vol.40 No.10, Vol.41 No.2. & Vol.42 No.6 Review and Review)

IsoAcoustics' Orea isolation feet combine rigid metal elements with pliable internal couplers and can be placed in sets of three or four, under a variety of products. Their Gaia footers work the same way, yet, instead of being designed to simply slide into place beneath the product to be isolated from vibrations, they're built to accept…

Magnepan LRS loudspeaker ($650/pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert, August 2019, Vol.42 No.8 Review)
PSB Alpha P5 loudspeaker ($349/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, October 2019, Vol.42 No.10 Review)

When it comes to Budget Component of the Year, 2019 appears to have been a very good year for loudspeakers. It also appears to have been a very good year for following the advice of Herb Reichert, who reviewed five of the six products mentioned here, and whose judgment was endorsed by so many of his colleagues.

Topping the list this…

Mytek Brooklyn Bridge streaming D/A processor ($2995; reviewed by Jim Austin, September 2019, Vol.42 No.9 Review)
Revel Performa F228Be loudspeaker ($10,000/pair; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, February 2019, Vol.42 No.2 Review)

Let's take a moment to savor something nice: One of our two Components of the Year, the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge streaming DAC, costs under $3000—less than the price of a bespoke suit from a Savile Row tailor. And while our other Component of the Year, the Revel Performa F228Be, has a five-figure price, it is so by…

PSB Alpha P5 loudspeaker
I have reviewed many cost-no-object loudspeakers over the years. But as I wrote in my review of this little gem: "While any competent engineer can design a superb loudspeaker if allowed an unlimited bill of materials, the true test is being able to produce a great- sounding, budget-priced speaker out of parts that cost a mere handful of dollars." Yes, there are many speakers that offer greater bass extension, dynamic range, and imaging precision, but at prices that range from five to 500 times as expensive as the Alpha P5.…

“The…

An acoustic bass-centric track I…

Description: Tubed integrated amplifier with remote control. Tube complement: 4 EL84 output tubes, 2 12AX7/ ECC83 small-signal tubes. Inputs: 3 line, single-ended (RCA), phono MM/MC (RCA). Maximum power output: 10Wpc into 6 ohms (8.25dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB (phono); 20Hz–80kHz, –3dB (line). THD (1kHz, 10W into 6 ohms): 1% or less. Sensitivity/Input impedance: 3.0mV/47k ohms (phono, MM); 0.33mV/100 ohms (Phono, MC); 180mV/47k ohms (line). S/N (IHF-A): >84dB (phono, MM); >64dB (phono, MC); >95dB (line). Power consumption: 98W.
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Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi R & Kuzma 4Point 11" tonearm; Thorens TD 124 turntable & Jelco TS-350S tonearm; Hana ML and Denon DL-103 phono cartridges.
Digital sources: Apple MacBook computer running Qobuz and Tidal; BorderPatrol DAC SE, Tascam CD-200iL CD player; Western Digital T2 Mirror Drives (2).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 A23 and Bob's Devices moving-coil step-up transformers, Shindo Allegro.
Power amplifier: Shindo Haut-Brion.
Integrated amplifier: Cary SLI-H80.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Klipsch…